The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 26, 2008
Filed:
May. 02, 2005
Mark A. Kramarczyk, Sterling Heights, MI (US);
Gary L. Jones, Farmington Hills, MI (US);
Joseph D. MC Cleary, Clinton Township, MI (US);
Kenneth J. Baron, Sterling Heights, MI (US);
Mark O. Neal, Rochester, MI (US);
Jenne-tai Wang, Rochester, MI (US);
Mark A. Kramarczyk, Sterling Heights, MI (US);
Gary L. Jones, Farmington Hills, MI (US);
Joseph D. Mc Cleary, Clinton Township, MI (US);
Kenneth J. Baron, Sterling Heights, MI (US);
Mark O. Neal, Rochester, MI (US);
Jenne-Tai Wang, Rochester, MI (US);
GM Global Technology Operations, Inc., Detroit, MI (US);
Abstract
A hood elevation system for a vehicle includes an actuator configured to selectively move at least a portion of a vehicle hood between an elevated and a retracted position. The hood elevation system also includes a self-locking mechanism configured to allow movement of the hood between the elevated and retracted positions initiated by the actuator, but to resist retraction of the hood as a result of certain loads applied to the hood. The self-locking mechanism thus enables repeated elevation and retraction of the hood. In a preferred embodiment, the self-locking mechanism is configured to deform, thereby absorbing energy from an impact to the hood.